The UK was the first country in Europe to ban farming in 2000, but sales of some furs are still legal.
And, Leona Lewis, 35, discussed the need to ban real fur sales, branding the practice ‘cruel and outdated’ as she detailed her animal welfare and sustainability activism while gracing the cover of the Autumn/Winter 2020 issue of Rollacoaster Magazine.
The multi-platinum selling artist also opened up about the pressures she’s faced in the music industry since she won X Factor 14 years ago, as well as her return to the studio and what she refers to as her ‘year of diversifying’ creatively.
Using her profile: Leona Lewis, 35, detailed her animal welfare activism while gracing the cover of the Autumn/Winter 2020 issue of Rollacoaster Magazine
Speaking about her animal rights activism, Leona said: ‘I’ve always been anti-fur I think it’s so cruel and outdated.
‘I think anyone who can see a protest like that and not see the humanity of it all, has no compassion and I think it’s vile.
‘I’ve been involved in a lot of campaigns and animal rights, but fur is the one thing that I think is the most horrendous side of the whole animal welfare issue.’
Although a phenomenally talented singer, Leona explained why she feels it would be a ‘waste’ to not use her profile to make a difference.
Speaking out: The multi-platinum selling artist discussed the need to ban real fur sales, branding the practice ‘cruel and outdated’
She said: ‘If you have a platform where you can speak out about wrongness in the world, I feel like it would be a waste not too. But I feel like also, each to their own.
‘It depends what issues upset you or you feel need to be brought to light. With the platform I’ve earned, there are certain injustices that I see that moves me so to a point that I can’t keep quiet about it.
‘I definitely am a very sensitive person and when I see things happening that is impacting my fellow people around me it hurts my heart…
‘I’m just a singer, I’m not professing to be a huge activist, I’m just someone who likes to support causes. There are activists out there, protesting day in day out on the ground and I’m inspired by that.’
Candid: The multi-platinum selling artist also opened up about the pressures she’s faced in the music industry over the years
Leona detailed her commitment to being sustainable as she opened up about her Eco Café business Coffee + Plants.
The global superstar is also a trustee at a 53-acre, 500-animal UK rescue sanctuary, Hopefield Animal Sanctuary.
She said: ‘I always kind of been someone who wants to explore lots of different sides of myself, this one particular venture I wanted to do is like an Eco Café [Coffee + Plants], so every 100 cups of coffee we sell, we plant a tree…
‘Everything is recyclable, we’re all plant-based and there’s no dairy. The cafe is surrounded with plants that sustain us and clean our oxygen.’
‘I’m still learning definitely, there are still things where I’m like “oh wow this is contributing to a lot of waste, this thing I’m buying is gonna sit in a landfill somewhere, oh my god what can I do to buy something different or support someone who’s created an alternative or support different initiatives” you know?’
Creative genius: The singer also discussed her return to the studio and what she refers to as her ‘year of diversifying’ creatively
Turning her attention to making music, Leona discussed her return to the studio and what she refers to as her ‘year of diversifying’ creatively.
She said: ‘It’s been fun and it’s been creative and I’ve gotten to be experimental because there’s no pressure. I’m looking forward to finishing up all those ideas…
‘I’ve been really experimenting by going back to my roots, using some soundscapes and using different parts of my voice… I’ve been working with a very different pallet at the moment, which has been fun.’
Aside from music, Leona has branched out in television production, writing books and acting.
Doing it all: Aside from music, Leona has branched out in television production, writing books and acting
The singer explained: ‘I’ve been doing a lot of creative writing and I have this TV concept which I’m developing right now that centres around where I grew up around Hackney and different things that impacted me growing up, I’m really excited about that project.
‘I’ve created a little music book for kids which I’m also really excited about. I was on a TV show a little while ago and I’ve really been getting into acting and seeing what roles comes for me as well.’
‘[It’s been] the year of diversifying, life is too short. Why are we limiting ourselves and putting ourselves in a box? If I have learnt anything about myself this year, it’s like just go for what you’re passionate about.’
Looking back on her X Factor win in 2006, Leona discussed the pressures she’s faced in the music industry.
Delighted: Leona shared a stunning snap from her cover shoot to her Instagram
She said: ‘It’s weird when you think about how much time has actually gone. When people are like “how long ago were you on the show?” [X Factor] and I’m like “seven years?”, it’s double that! It’s kind of mad…
‘There’s always different pressures I felt from outside, whether it’s lots of opinions on what I was doing, lots of judgment on things that I was doing, especially in the age that we live in where there are so many comments…
‘It’s hard not to feel that pressure and you’d have to be a very focused person not to.’
‘I’m the kind of person who is quite stubborn so once I have my sight on something, I just go for it.’